Broilers Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Pearl Millet and Reconstituted Pearl Millet with Enzyme Supplementation in Pelleted Feed

An experiment (42 days) was conducted on broiler chicks to study the broiler performance and nutrient utilization by feeding without or with enzyme supplemented pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet based pelleted diet. Day-old broiler chicks (n=440) were randomly distributed into 11 treatments having two replicates each with the following feeding regimen. T₁- Control - maize based ration, T₂ - T₁₁ are in pelleted ration, whereas, T₃ - T₂ + multi-enzyme, T₄ - 66% maize replaced with pearl millet, T₅-100% maize replaced with pearl millet, T₆ - T₄ + multi-enzyme, T₇- T₅ + multi-enzyme, T₈- 66% maize replaced with reconstituted pearl millet, T₉-100% maize replaced with reconstituted pearl millet, T₁₀- T₈ + multi-enzyme, T₁₁- T₉ + multi-enzyme. The starter ration fed upto 4 weeks and finisher ration upto 6 weeks were fed. Significantly higher body weight gain and better FCR in pearl millet based diet, reconstituted or with enzyme supplementation as compared to control for starting period. Significantly lower feed conversion ratio was observed in T₄, T₆, T₈ and T₁₀ as compared to control groups for overall growth period. Significantly higher performance index was observed in pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet with or without enzyme supplementation. Significantly higher protein efficiency was observed in pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet with or without enzyme supplementation at 66 percent level (except T₁₀) as compared to control. Significantly higher protein efficiency in 66 percent pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet with or without enzyme supplementation and non-significant at 100 percent pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet based diet with or without enzymes were observed as compared to control T₁ and T₂ for overall growth period. The dry matter retention improved in maize based pelleted feed (T₂) and significantly improved in enzyme supplemented maize based pelleted feed as compared to T₁. Nitrogen retention was significantly higher in pearl millet and reconstituted pearl millet based diet with or without enzyme supplementation (except T₅ and T₇) as compared to maize based pelleted feed T₂.